Tag Archives: black and white photography

I posted about my indecision on black and white vs. color photos. This blog is going to discuss when there is no question. It must be black and white.

A Good Night for Pizza

This image was taken at night in New York City. Often, images taken at night can have an odd color shift. This image had some pretty green tinges. Yes, I can color correct the image. But sometimes it creates other weirdness or I simply don’t like the image in color.

A good night for pizza in black and white

A Good Night for Pizza with color correction

A Good Night for Pizza with no correction

Waiting for the Train

This is another image that looks better as a black and white. The color just takes away from the subject of the image.

This is an interactive blog. I would like your feedback and opinion on this images. I have a hard time deciding if I like the black and white or color versions better. Of course, in the end, I usually offer both in my shop. But it is nice to get feedback. So let me which you prefer and why.

New York Public Library

The steps of the New York Public Library in black and white

The New York Public Library entry

When on the train to NYC, I met a lady who told me I had to go see the Public Library. She did not lie.

Trefoil Arch Central Park

The Trefoil Arch in Central Park in black and white.

The Trefoil Arch in Central Park Color

I love this tunnel. I have seen other photos and was excited when I came across it while wandering the park. I had to wait for a few people to come along and walk through to get this image. I prefer the black and white. It emphasizes the shapes and textures better. What do you think?

The New York Times Building

The front of the New York Times in black and white

The front of the New York TImes

When I looked up and saw this, I knew that I had to take a picture of it. I am torn on which I prefer. I like the more modern feel of the color version. But I really like the classic touch of the black and white.

Between the Old and the New

Between the Old and the New Color

Between contemporary and historic buildings is the Chrysler Building peaks out.

The thing I love most about traveling in large cities is this. When modern meets historic and a classic in between. I can’t pick which I like better. Maybe you can!

Glass House Tavern Sign

The color version of the Glass House Tavern Sign.

The sign for the Glass House Tavern is simple but I love it

I found the simplicity of this sign to be eye catching. Shoe horned in with the big showy marquees of Times Square, it caught my attention. The black and white image feels like classic, like it could have been taken in the early days of photography.

I look forward to your input on these images! Also, feel free to link to your own blog in the comments below.

I recently had the chance to enter a local photography competition. The theme was the human element in black and white. The only two rules were that it had to be black and white and have only one person in it. If you have seen my portfolio, you know that quite a bit of my work is dedicated to street photography. I was torn between entering a photo representing what I do best or trying to do something different. I decided to leave my comfort zone.

Embarrassment

I do try to hide my legs because of the fact that I no longer shave them. I get angry with myself for not just owning it. I mean, I shouldn’t be doing it, if I’m going to be ashamed of it, right? And it’s not that I worry about people making fun of me. I don’t really care about that. But I know that it does gross some people out. I don’t blame them for that. It’s outside of their scope. We’ve been told that smooth women are sexy and clean. If they aren’t smooth everywhere, then they are dirty. The hair on my legs is course and thick. I had to use that horrible hair removal stuff that stinks and itches. Shaving too me ages and I would go through razor blades like cookies. So, I decided I just was not going to do it anymore. It’s been two years.

Those are my legs (I’m a woman). No, I don’t shave anymore. Because I don’t want to. Also, I was dancing a little to create that movement.

When it’s time to rest my feet, it’s time to sit.

My right foot leads. My toes are long and my legs are hairy.

Something Different

I entered “De Feet” into the Human Element competition. When I got there to drop off my image, I felt weird. I knew that people would ask who the model is. Most people thought it was a man’s legs in a skirt. Then the other photos were mostly portraits or street photography and they were amazing. I got a little angry with myself. The part that hates myself was berating, “why do you always get it wrong?!” But the part that loves myself, the one that’s been fighting to get out for years, said, “different isn’t wrong, dammit.”

Different isn’t wrong

And that is true. I won 5th place out of 28 entries, not bad for an image so different from the others. I had several people tell they love it. Although, one person said she loves it, but still “wants to shave them legs.”

As I’ve said before, I like to experiment with my photos. I might revisit a photo weeks, months, or years later. Recently, I’ve been on a black and white kick. Sometimes, I like the black and white version better, sometimes, not really. I’d love to hear which version you like!

The same glow but not as warm and inviting. It feels like an old documentary photo.

I love this photo! I love this version. It glows, it’s warm, it’s inviting.